62 On the Discovery of an Ancient Hammer-head 
easily can we account for the removal of detritus from the 
valleys, which has taken place to a great extent, as is well 
marked by the terraces along the course of the Arve and 
the Rhone. 
On the Discovery of an ancient Hammer-head in certain 
Superficial Deposits near Coventry. By the Rev. P. B. 
Bropiz, M.A., F.G.S. 
As the occurrence of the remains of works of human art in 
beds of gravel, at greater or less depth, associated with the 
remains of extinct mammalia, has lately excited much attention 
among geologists, the following particulars relative to the dis- 
covery of an ancient stone hammer which was found in certain 
superficial deposits near Coventry, may be generally interesting. 
The details were, at my request, kindly communicated to, me 
by my friend Mr J. S. Whittem of Cownden, near that town, 
on whose land it was dug up, and who first drew my attention 
toit. It is one of the most ancient relics of human art, far older 
than the Celtic,and belongs to what archeologists call the stone 
age.” It is a stone implement, either used as a hammer or a 
weapon of war. It is somewhat water-worn, and looks as if it 
had been used. The stone of which it is made resembles mill- 
stone-grit, or some hard igneous rock; but Icould not speak deci- 
sively on this point. In its present condition, itis impossible to 
determine this without breaking it. It was procured in drain- 
ing, in the parish of Sowe, about two feet six inches from the 
surface, lying in the midst of the detritus about to be described. 
This consists chiefly of red marly clay, of varied thickness, 
from three to nine feet, mixed with sand and pebbles, and 
fragments of rock, which are rather thinly dispersed amongst 
it. Many of these are angular, others rounded and almost 
polished as if by friction. Amongst them are various ancient 
rocks, such as granite, greenstone, and syenite. The fossili- 
ferous portions differ much in size, and belong chiefly to the 
mountain limestone. A few are decidedly oolitic and contain 
shells, amongst which was a piece with shells resembling 
